OROVILLE &GT;&GT; Facing a packed house that spilled out into the Council Chambers lobby, the Oroville City Council on Tuesday heard an outcry to save the city's police and fire departments.

At the end of a long discussion, the council unanimously approved a resolution that allows Public Safety Director Bill LaGrone to send out requests for proposals from Cal Fire-Butte County, Butte County Sheriff's Office, and other fire and law enforcement agencies.

The stated aim is to find out what it would actually cost to contract for fire and police services and if it would help cut the city's costs.

According to City Administrator Randy Murphy, 70 percent of the city's budget is spent on those two departments.

More than 50 people attended the meeting, some having heard rumors that officials plan to dissolve Oroville Police Department and Oroville Fire Department.

Before the public spoke, Murphy and LaGrone addressed the reason for the requests before the council.

Murphy said when he was hired, he vowed to turn over every stone to make the best use of the public's money.

Addressing both the audience and council, LaGrone said the items he brought forward were not easy for him, his departments, the city or anyone.

He emphasized that he was only asking permission to go to other agencies and get information "so we can make informed decisions."

"By no stretch of the imagination are we closing or dissolving the police department...," LaGrone said.

Eleven people asked to comment, all voicing the desire to keep the departments.

Former Oroville Firefighters Association president Skip George reminded the council that the department has continued to bring a high level of service to the city, even during difficult financial times.

"Not only do we serve the community, we are the community...We have committed our lives to the community and the safety of our citizens," George said. "We believe outsourcing our services would be a tragic loss to the citizens of our community."

Longtime resident Regina Ellena urged the council not to rush with a decision and suggested setting up public forums within Oroville and the Thermalito and Southside neighborhoods.

Police officer Gary Vrooman read a letter from a Walmart employee who wrote that it would be a huge injustice to disband the police department. After reading the letter, Vrooman suggested the council consider forming a township to cut costs.

Some of the audience speakers were against possibly contracting with the Sheriff's Office or Cal Fire.

In Breck Wright's opinion, the city would go from being a proactive police department to a retroactive one if the council goes with the Sheriff's Office.

Police Sgt. John Bruschi raised issues with current staffing and morale. Police officers have been working a lot of overtime. Also, some officers are out on medical leave and others have gone to work for other agencies.

"Last year, people were affected by layoffs," Bruschi said. "This puts (out) a mindset of uncertainty in the department... Those are the things you need to consider."

Speaker Lee Hutchins added that without a police department available to the public schools, "we are in deep trouble."

Among the seven councilors, some were adamantly against ever closing the police and fire departments, while others voiced uncertainty.

Several also raised the strong possibility that they may have to raise the sales tax and have a property tax.

However, all seven indicated the action LaGrone requested is necessary.

Councilors J.R. Simpson and Cheri Bunker were against contracting out the services.

Bunker said she is not in favor of eliminating either department.

"I will fight tooth and toenail to keep this from going through, but we need the numbers," she said, adding that they may have to raise taxes.

"I don't like (raising) the sales tax, but that may need to be what we would seriously be looking at," she said.

Councilor David Pittman reiterated that they would be looking at what the actual contracting costs would be in order to move forward with whatever step would be next.

"We don't know if anyone is interested...," he said. "As a council member and representative to you, we're running thin on our budget and our revenue."

Mayor Linda Dahlmeier said she wants to look at the alternatives before the city finances reach the point they have to take action.

"Do we start the process now or wait until the eleventh hour," she asked. "We're ahead of the ball now. If we wait, we won't be."

To Councilor Gordon Andoe, whose term ends in December, it's simply a business matter.

"What's before us is to assure we're getting the best bang for the buck," he said. "To me, it's a no-brainer."

Although some in the audience accused the councilors of already making up their minds, Councilor Thil Wilcox said she hadn't.

"I thoroughly support our police department, but we need the information," she said.

Councilor Jack Berry initially questioned the agenda items, but after hearing some comments, he said he lost respect for some people who he thought were disparaging toward LaGrone.

"I've lived here all my life," Berry said. "We have to be transparent and look under every rock to find ways (to save money). I'm glad this brought a lot of people out."